DHAKA: The High Court on Tuesday (June 18) directed the authorities concerned to initiate necessary steps to destroy expired drug items after withdrawing those from all the drug stores across the country.
Besides, a report has to be submitted within 30 days upon taking action against the persons involved in stocking and sale of expired drugs.
The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the order along with a rule, upon hearing a writ plea.
Justice Watch Foundation Executive Director Supreme Court lawyer Mahfuzur Rahman Milon filed the writ petition for public interest, after attaching a newspaper report on expired drugs, on Monday (June 17).
Barrister ABM Altaf Hossain moved for the writ plea while Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar moved for the state, at the courtroom Tuesday.
In the rule, the court asked to reply why inactivity of defendants won't be declared illegal over sale and storage of expired drug items at the pharmacies and drug sale centers.
Secretaries to health, home, law, commerce and industries ministries and director generals to health services, drug administration, consumer rights protection, deputy director of consumer rights protection, inspector general of police (IGP), president and general secretary of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) were asked to reply the rule.
The court also directed the authorities to form distinct independent investigation committees to identify those responsible for sale, preservation and supply of expired drugs.
Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection's Deputy Director Monjur Mohammad Shahriar earlier made headlines by telling a program at Khamarbari of Farmgate on June 10, marking World Food Safety Day, that almost 93 percent pharmacies in Dhaka city sell expired drugs.
On Tuesday, the HC court asked a report from the director general and deputy director of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection explaining the comment of Monjur Mohammad Shahriar.
BDST: 1448 HRS, JUN 18, 2019
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